Machine for stretching boot or shoe uppers



(No Model. 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. SHAVER.

MACHINE FOR STRETGHING BOOT 0R SHOE UPPERS.

No. 596,808. I Patented Dec. 28, 1897.

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(No Model.)

A SHAVER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. MACHINE FOR STREITCHING BOOT 0R SHOE UPPERS.

No. 596,308. Patented Dec. 28,1897.

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A. SEAVER. MACHINE FOR STRETOHING BOOT 0R SHOE'UPPERS.

Patented Dec; 28,1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFIUE.

AUGUSTUS SEAVER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 596,308, dated December 28, 1897.

' Application filed October 1'7, 1896. Serial No, 609,201. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, AUGUSTUS SEAVER, of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Stretching Boot or Shoe Uppers, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide a machine for efficaciously stretching the upper over its last prior to its being sewed to the insole, and particularly for stretching those shoes in which the upper does not extend to the toe and to which a toe-cap is afterward secured, the last on which the upper is to be stretched being to'el'ess.

To this end my invention consists of a machine embodying those features of construction and arrangement which are illustrated in the drawings and which are now to be described in detail, and pointed out in the claims hereto annexed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, the same letters designating the same parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

Of the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same, drawn on an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the upper portion of the machine. Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, drawn on the same scale. Fig. 5 is a View illustrating the last as in place upon its sup.- port with the gripping-jaws fastened to the edges of the upper and drawing vertically against the last to stretch the upper and remove any wrinkles or creases therefrom. Fig. 6 is a similar view, but showing the grippingjaws as exerting a lateral as well as downward strain upon the upper. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a partially-formed shoe with the grippers drawing the upper taut over the last and also showing the supplemental pincers for drawing upon the front end of the upper. Fig. 8 is a section on the line 8 8 of Fig. v2 and showing one of the levers for the grippers, together with its fulcrum and adjacent parts.

In carrying out my invention, which it will be understood is not limited to those precise details of construction which I have elected to illustrate on the drawings and which I shall now describe, I employ a standard a, having a suitable base I) for maintaining it in an upright position. To the upper end of the standard, which is suitably flanged, as at o, is secured the upright dand the bracket 6. The upper ends of the said upright and bracket (1 and e are each provided with a dovetailed groovefto receive the tongue g of a last h, which is placed-therein, the upright and the bracket being formed integrally and constituting an abutment to resist the thrust of the grippers, as I shall hereinafter describe.

The last h is illustrated on the drawings as being cut off at the front end, so as to have no toe portion, and forms to all intents and purposes a portion of the machine.

I preferably provide four sets of grippingjaws, two for engaging the opposite edges of theupper at points midway between the ends of the upper or underneath the instep and two for engaging the front end of the upper, said jaws being arranged to draw downwardly or directly away from the abutment or support, so as to stretch the upper thoroughly and removefrom it all wrinkles or creases, and the two first-mentioned jaws being arranged to exert a lateral pressure also.

The grippers for the rear portion of the upper constitute the following parts: On two brackets t' 1', extending oppositely from the bracket 6, are mounted two Verticallyarranged pairs of ears j j. Between and in each pair is pivoted an upwardly-projecting gripper-arm 70, provided at its upper end with a serrated gripping-j aw Z.

on m are gripping-arms parallel to the arms and also provided with gripping-jaws 'n, corresponding to and adapted to coact with the jaws Z in grasping an edge of the upper and holding. it firmly between them.

0 p are cross-levers pivoted together at (1 for moving the gripping-arms toward and from each other in parallelism,each lever 19 being extended, as at r, to provide a long arm, which may be drawn downwardly by alink s, pivoted to its end, each link 8 being placed between the ears it of a head u and pivoted thereto by a pivot-pin o. The head a is connected by a rod u; with a foot-operated leverm, pivoted at 'y to a small standard 2, projebting upwardly from the base b of the machine, the outer end of the foot-lever 00 being equipped with a treadle a, whereby it may be depressed by the foot of the operator. The upper ends of the cross-levers o p are pivoted to the arms and 022, while the lower pivots b of the levers 0 p operate in slots in the said arms at and 7c. Preferably the extensions 7' of the levers 17 project oppositely across the machine, so that they do not take up unnecessary space, as would be the case if they projected out from the same.

Bars 0 0 project outwardly from the brackets 2' and are provided with adjustable stopscrews (1, arranged in the paths of motion of the levers 7; to limit them in their outward thrust occasioned by the springs e e, which tend to draw the arms to their normal inoperative positions.

\Vhen the foot-lever is depressed, the first action caused by such depression is the drawing downward of the extensions 0* to cause the gripper-arms to be drawn together untilthe jaws firmly grasp the edges of the upper, and a further downward movement of the eX- tensions r o causes the arms 76 713 to approach each other, drawing the edges of the upper downward against the thrust of the abutment and inward toward each other, as will be readily understood. Then the foot-lever is released, the spring f draws the treadle up and forces the jaws apart, and the springs a cause the arms 7; to be drawn outward into their normal positions.

The grippers for the toe end of the upper comprise two movable gripping-arms g g, each of which is equipped with a grippingjaw h, and two stationary gripping-arms i 2", likewise provided with gripping-jaws 7" The arms are connected by cross-levers 7s Z, pivoted together, as before described, so that the movable jaw approaches and recedes from the stationary jaw in parallelism therewith. The stationary arms 6 are each mounted on the end of a lever m, pivoted to a swivel-pin n, secured in a socket 0 on the end of a bracket 1), projecting outward from the bracket 6. The levers Z are extended, as at q, and are connected by links 0* with a rod .9, the lower end of which is connected to a lever t, pivoted at u to a bracket o, projecting out from the base of the frame. The lever t is similar to the lever 06, before described, and is arranged parallel to the latter and in close proximity thereto, so that the operator may depress either one of them without moving from his position.

a is a collar surrounding the swivel-pin and having a socket to receive a spring 0 which surrounds a pin (Z pivoted to the lever m at e, being provided with ears f which project up on either side of the lever for this purpose. The lower end of the pin d projects through the socket b and is provided with a transverse pin acting as a stop to limit the upward movement of the pin caused by the spring a.

It will now be seen that when the links 0" are drawn downward by the foot-lever t and its coactingparts the jaws hj will Iirml y clamp the edges of the upper and will both be drawn bodily downward, the lever rocking on its pivot for this purgose, and that the further movement of the links as they approach their limit will tend to draw and stretch the upper forwardly, the levers m swinging around their swivelpins to permit this. The jaws have a universal movement, so as to follow the shape of the last for the perfect stretching of the upper. Hence the upper will not onlybe drawn taut over the last downwardly, but will also be drawn forwardly to shape it nicely over the last.

To assist in drawing the upper forwardly, I provide hand-operated pincers (indicated at A) having suitable gripping-jaws 13 with handles 0. The pincers have an arm D, which may be placed in a rest 7L2, formed on the bracket 6.

Vhen the foot-lever is released, a springf, connected to the bracket e and to the pivot 70*, (which connects the links 2- with the rod 8' through the medium of the head 1",) draws the foot-lever upward and together with the spring forces the parts into their original inoperative positions. Each of the foot-levers is provided with a dog Z adapted to engage the serrated blade on? on a post n ex tending up from the base I), so that when the levers are depressed the dogs Z engage the plates and maintain the lovers in their lowermost positions to insure that the upper is stretched for the proper length of time.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a simple but highly cfficient machine for stretching uppers and removing the wrinkles and creases therefrom, the parts of which cooperate to produce the best results with a minimum of power.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a way of constructing and using the same, though without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made or all of the modes of its use, I declare that what I claim is- 1. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers comprising an arm movably connected with said support and having a jaw to engage an upper on such last on the side of said upper which is toward the last, and a complemental jaw to engage the opposite side of the upper and movably connected with said arm; and means for moving the said complemental jaw relatively to the arm, said means also operating to move the latter relatively to the support.

2. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers comprising an arm pivotally connected with said support and having a jaw to engage an upper on such last on the side of said upper which is toward the last, and a complemeutal jaw to engage the opposite side of the upper and movably connected with the said arm; and means for ICC ITO

moving said complemental jaw relatively to the arm, said means also operating to move the latter relatively to the support.

3. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers comprising an arm pivotally connected with said support and having a jaw to engage an upper on such last on the side of said upper which is toward the last, a complemental jaw to engage the opposite or outer side of the upper, and a lever pivoted to the, arm and connected with the complemental jaw; and means applied to said lever for moving the latter jaw toward the jaw on said arm, said means also operating to move the arm on its pivot.

4. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers comprising an arm pivotally connected with said support and having a jaw to engage the inner side of an upper on such last, a complemental jaw to engage the opposite or outer side of such up per, and a lever pivoted to the arm and connected with the complemental jaw, said lever extending somewhat beyond its point of connection with one of said parts; and means applied to said extension for moving the complemental jaw toward the arm, said means also operating to move the arm on its pivot.

5. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a last-support, upper grippers and stretchers at opposite sides of the said support and each comprising a member pivotally connected with the latter and a complemental member pivotally connected with the first-named member, means for moving said members together, which means also operate to move the grippers on their pivotal connections with the last-support, and means for holding the grippers yieldingly open and retracted.

6. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a suitable last-support; gripper-carrying arms at opposite sides of the same and pivotally connected therewith for movement transversely thereof, each of said arms having a grippin g-j aw 5 means for yieldingly holding the arms outwardly; arms outside said first-named arms and having grippin g-j aws in juxtarelation to those of the latter; a set of cross-levers for each pair of gripper-arms, each set comprising two crossed members jointed to each other and each j ointed to each arm and one extending considerably beyond its point of connection with the inner arm; and means applied to the extensions of said levers for operating the same to close the jaws together and to move the inner arms toward each other, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A machine for stretching uppers comprising an abutment to receive a last, oppositely-arranged gripping-jaws located on both sides of the abutment levers pivoted to swing longitudinally of the last and on each of which a pair of jaws is mounted,and'operative means sitely-arranged gripping-jaws located on both sides of the abutment adjacent the shank of the last, and coacting oppositely-arranged jaws located betwcen'the shank and the toe of the last, means for moving said last-mentioned jaws against the stress of the abut-ment,

to stretch the upper transversely of the last, and toward the toe to stretch the upper lengthwise of the last, and means for moving the first-mentioned jaws to stretch the upper transversely of the last and under the shank. 9. In a machine for stretching uppers, the

combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers in a support movable longitudinally of the last on the firstnamed support; and means for closing the grippers on the upper, said means also operating to move said grippers-support longitudinally of the last.

10. A machine for stretching uppers, comprising an abutment to receive a last with an upper thereon, oppositely acting grippers each pivoted to swing longitudinally of the last, and grippers each pivoted to swing transversely of the last.

11. A machine for stretching uppers, comprising a standard having an abutment to receive a last with an upper thereon, oppositely-acting grippers each pivoted to swing longitudinally of the last, grippers each pivoted to swing transversely of the last, operative levers for actuating said grippers in one direction, and springs for returning the grippers to their normal position.

12. A machine for stretching uppers, comprising a standard having an abutment to receive a last with an upper thereon, oppositelyacting grippers each pivoted to swing longitudinally of the last, grippers each pivoted to swing transversely of the last, operative levers for actuating said grippers in one direction and means for locking said levers.

13. A machine for stretching uppers, comprising a standard having a last for the upper, two coacting gripping jaws arranged on each side of the last, an'arm for each pair of coacting jaws, a pin for each arm to which said arm is pivoted to swing transversely of the last, each pin being swiveled in the standard to permit the arms to swing longitudinally of the last, whereby the gripping-jaws have a universal movement.

14. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers movably mounted on said support and comprising a pair of jaws arranged to grasp an upper on such last, and equalizing connections between the said jaws preserving their parallelism; and means for closing said grippers and moving them to stretch the upper.

15. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers movably mounted on said support and comprising a pair of jaws arranged to grasp an upper on such last, and crossed levers pivotally connected with the jaws and with each other and preserving parallelism of the jaw; and means applied to said crossed levers for closing the grippers.

16. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers movably mounted on said support and comprising a pair of jaws arranged to grasp an upper on such last, and crossed levers pivotally connected with the jaws and with each other and preserving parallelism of the jaws; and means applied to said crossed levers for closing the grippers, said means also operating to move the grippers relatively to the support.

17. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers movably mounted on said support and comprising a pair of jaws arranged to grasp an upper on such last, and crossed levers pivotally connected with said jaws and with each other and preserving parallelism of the jaws, one of said levers being extended beyond its point of connection with one of the jaws; and means applied to said extension for moving the jaws toward each other.

18. In a machine for stretching uppers, the combination of a support affording an abutment for a last; grippers comprising an arm pivotally connected with said support and having a jaw to engage the inner side of an upper on such last, a complemental jaw to engage the outer side of such upper, and crossed levers pivotally connected with the said jaws and with each other; and means applied to said crossed lever for moving the complemental jaw relatively to the arm and for moving the latter relatively to the support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 9th day of October, A. D. 1890.

AUGUSTUS SEAVER.

\Vitnesscs:

A. D. HARRISON, P. \V. PEZZETTI. 

